A recent naturalization ceremony in St. Paul, Minnesota, welcomed over 100 new citizens from 25 countries, including Argentina, Cuba, Ukraine, and India. The ceremony, held at a courthouse in St. Paul, marked a significant milestone for the new citizens, who are now eligible to vote and fully participate in American society.

Why Citizenship Matters

For many of the new citizens, becoming an American is a dream come true. Victoria Alberto, 66, from the Philippines, said she wanted to vote and apply to work at the VA Hospital, which only hires citizens. Nutifafa Yakor, 37, from Ghana, said he felt a sense of belonging and wanted to take on the rights and duties of a citizen.

Sergio Espinoza, 55, from Guatemala, said becoming a citizen was an achievement and would allow him to vote and not be discriminated against based on his status. Geli Li, 34, from China, said she felt grateful to have a new home and was excited to participate in American democracy.

Other new citizens, including Paul Connolly-Hartmann, 49, from Canada, and Carlos Ferrer, 40, from El Salvador, also shared their stories and reasons for becoming citizens. They emphasized the importance of democracy, freedom, and the opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their families.

A New Chapter

The naturalization ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of these individuals. As they took the oath and received their certificates of citizenship, they were reminded of the responsibilities and privileges that come with being an American. U.S. District Court Judge Mychal Bruggeman told them, “You are now at the beginning of a new line of generations, with new narratives to be woven into our national fabric.”

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.